He made ten years of piano at the music school of Kharkov (1954-1965). In 1965, he entered the piano department of the Gnesin Musical Pedagogical Institute (class of Theodor Gutman) of Moscow, where he studied until 1968. In 1970, he gra- duated the Conservatory of Nijnii Novgorod. In 1965-1967, he sang in the jazz trio without bass of G e r m a n Lukyanov (Vladimir Vasilkov - drums, Leonid Chizhic - piano), in 1969-1971 - in the State Estrada Orchestra of RSFSR under the guidance of Leonid Uteosov. In 1972, he was the soloist of Mosconcert; in 1973-1976 he administered his own trio (with Andrei Egorov - contrabass and Vladimir Zasedatelev - drums); until 1978 - another trio (with Yuri Genbachev - battery and Anatoly Babiy - contrabass). Since the beginning of 70s, he was the first in USSR who made improvisa- tions of p i a n o solo, since 1978, he interpreted exclusively as soloist. Since 1991 - in Germany, since 1992 - as associate professor at the Richard Strauss Conservatory of Munich; currently he is professor at the department of jazz piano of Liszt Ferenc Music School of Wimar (since 1994). He is the author of several jazz compositions for piano. He also executes programs of classic music in jazz processing (with symphonic orchestra and Kremerata Baltica conducted by Gidon Kremer). He recorded a high number of discs in Europe, Asia and Northern America.